Gas prices creep upward

Average retail gasoline prices in Connecticut have risen 2.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.67 yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,540 gas outlets in Connecticut.

This compares with the national average that has increased 4.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.31, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Prices in Ridgefield Sunday included $3.69 cash at Valero, $3.79 at Irving, $3.83 at BP on Danbury Road, $3.86 at Mobil, $3.89 at the State Line station, and $3.99 at Shell.

Lowest in Danbury was $3.59, found at eight stations around the city, including four Citgos. Lowest reported in the state was $3.47 at Ravi stations in Bristol and Rocky Hill.

Including the change in gas prices in Connecticut during the past week, prices yesterday were 2.7 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 3.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 4.5 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 6.7 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.

“The national average has picked up in the last week on the apparent start of refinery maintenance season,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “Refinery production has taken a hit in the last week as companies begin looking towards the summer driving season, utilizing this time of year for maintenance and any upgrades before gasoline demand races higher for the summer season.”

GasBuddy operates ConnecticutGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 25 million times to help motorists find the lowest gasoline prices in their area.